Seeing Eye to Eye, Coming Together in Unity

[Politico]

I have no interest in unity with idiots.

 

[bayoubill]

With all of this political derisiveness over the past decade and a half, along with watching the last episode of the Glenn Beck show air in July of 2011 in my waning days as a far right Republican; I was struck with a burning question: If, in a time of crisis or danger to the US as a whole, would we as a people put away our political views to work as one in a consolidated effort to avoid it? Or would we argue on how to go about this task? It's a disturbing proposition:

Would we let our political differences be the precursor to our destruction?

In my experience with politics, I have noticed an extreme societal divide between Americans. There is one side so deeply rooted in their beliefs that no other point of view is sufficient; and if the status quo is interrupted, they react in vitriolic ways, spewing hatred and slander at any opposition. The desire to control and manipulate general opinion has overwhelmed them.

On the other hand, however, the other side hopes to one day return to a time when the law was taken seriously and the government worked for them, not against them. They amass in protest against what their nation has become. If they are confronted with the fact of losing their freedoms, they too will react in a less mannerable way. Neither side is perfect, and in fact; both of them are guilty of extreme animosity towards each other. Although each side contends their ideas reap more merits the others; the truth is, no idea is a good idea unless everyone agrees with it. Naturally though, there is never unanimous approval with any idea.

I have seen how each of these sides look down one another for having a different points of view, with hatred boiling over. Since when is it okay to look down on someone? Or judge them for what they believe in? I have seen how much effort it takes to get a Democrat and a Republican to work together on something productive, for the benefit of America. For example, the debt ceiling talks, immigration reform, abortion, or gay rights/union rights. I have seen my fellow Americans dig themselves in amidst the political trenches, fiercely defending their views, while savagely attacking their opponents. Believe me, this author is no different.

Seriously though, would we ever come together as a country for a common cause? Can we ever put the "United" back in the United States of America again? Will we as a nation once more see each other eye to eye? Will we see each other as friends and fellow compatriots, or as enemies and abominations? Unity brings about strength and stability, while divisiveness only brings about chaos, hatred and weakness.

While you celebrate your freedom to agree or disagree on this new year, just remember, there are hundreds of millions of people just like us, with different points of view; fighting for a common cause: freedom. Perhaps that is an example that all of us would do well to follow.

ah crap... I nodded off again after the second sentence...

I'll have another shot at it after I've had a night's sleep and a cup of coffee...

 

[bayoubill]

I have no interest in unity with idiots.

mebbe 'cause you refuse to acknowledge your rightful place in their clubhouse...?

 

[LoneLaugher]

Great OP. Miss Crabtree may give you a smiley face sticker.

Just think.....if liberals agree with your assessment of them.....and promise to stop being so mean and nasty, this country might be able to unite!

I can't wait!

 

[LoneLaugher]

With all of this political derisiveness over the past decade and a half, along with watching the last episode of the Glenn Beck show air in July of 2011 in my waning days as a far right Republican; I was struck with a burning question: If, in a time of crisis or danger to the US as a whole, would we as a people put away our political views to work as one in a consolidated effort to avoid it? Or would we argue on how to go about this task? It's a disturbing proposition:

Would we let our political differences be the precursor to our destruction?

In my experience with politics, I have noticed an extreme societal divide between Americans. There is one side so deeply rooted in their beliefs that no other point of view is sufficient; and if the status quo is interrupted, they react in vitriolic ways, spewing hatred and slander at any opposition. The desire to control and manipulate general opinion has overwhelmed them.

On the other hand, however, the other side hopes to one day return to a time when the law was taken seriously and the government worked for them, not against them. They amass in protest against what their nation has become. If they are confronted with the fact of losing their freedoms, they too will react in a less mannerable way. Neither side is perfect, and in fact; both of them are guilty of extreme animosity towards each other. Although each side contends their ideas reap more merits the others; the truth is, no idea is a good idea unless everyone agrees with it. Naturally though, there is never unanimous approval with any idea.

I have seen how each of these sides look down one another for having a different points of view, with hatred boiling over. Since when is it okay to look down on someone? Or judge them for what they believe in? I have seen how much effort it takes to get a Democrat and a Republican to work together on something productive, for the benefit of America. For example, the debt ceiling talks, immigration reform, abortion, or gay rights/union rights. I have seen my fellow Americans dig themselves in amidst the political trenches, fiercely defending their views, while savagely attacking their opponents. Believe me, this author is no different.

Seriously though, would we ever come together as a country for a common cause? Can we ever put the "United" back in the United States of America again? Will we as a nation once more see each other eye to eye? Will we see each other as friends and fellow compatriots, or as enemies and abominations? Unity brings about strength and stability, while divisiveness only brings about chaos, hatred and weakness.

While you celebrate your freedom to agree or disagree on this new year, just remember, there are hundreds of millions of people just like us, with different points of view; fighting for a common cause: freedom. Perhaps that is an example that all of us would do well to follow.

ah crap... I nodded off again after the second sentence...

I'll have another shot at it after I've had a night's sleep and a cup of coffee...

You are not trying to say the kid is verbose are you?

 

[Mac1958]

.

No "unity" (cooperation and reason) can take place until both whacked-out ends of the spectrum are marginalized. And since those 20% of the populace generate about 95% of the political energy, I don't see that happening any time soon. So the ship will continue to sink while the deck hands stand around, pointing the finger at each other.

.

 

[LoneLaugher]

.

No "unity" (cooperation and reason) can take place until both whacked-out ends of the spectrum are marginalized. And since those 20% of the populace generate about 95% of the political energy, I don't see that happening any time soon. So the ship will continue to sink while the deck hands stand around, pointing the finger at each other.

.

Are you a deck hand too?

 

[Politico]

I know who is in the clubhouse. And both sides are morons.

 

[LoneLaugher]

 

[Intense]

When we do see eye to eye, we wont be the United States anymore. We will be something far better. And this nation is pretty cool already.

To the next Life.

 

[Avatar4321]

People are motivated by self-interest. Most see pursuit of their own agenda as being more important than unity. There is a lot of profit and power in either dividing people or strictly pursuing your own agenda.

This is not going to change except under rare and generally extreme circumstances.

Makes sense, but wasn't 9/11 one of those "extreme circumstances"?

Shouldn't we be looking to unity even outside those circumstances? Im not saying sacrifice principles, but I think we could be much more creative with our solutions.

 

[Avatar4321]

Americans were terrified. It was an existential crisis. So was the Great Depression. Those events happen very rarely. America was not united during the American Revolution or the Civil War obviously. There may be unity again, but it will take an existential crisis to make it happen.

That's my point. It shouldn't take fear or terror to unite us. We don't need a crisis to be united.

Unfortunately..I think that is exactly what must happen before anyone forgets boxes and labels and become just AMERICANS.

Then I think the question we all need to ask is why will it take that before we forget the boxes and labels and just become Americans? It's something we all need to ask ourselves. And then eliminate what's holding us back.

 

[TemplarKormac]

People are motivated by self-interest. Most see pursuit of their own agenda as being more important than unity. There is a lot of profit and power in either dividing people or strictly pursuing your own agenda.

This is not going to change except under rare and generally extreme circumstances.

Makes sense, but wasn't 9/11 one of those "extreme circumstances"?

Shouldn't we be looking to unity even outside those circumstances? I'm not saying sacrifice principles, but I think we could be much more creative with our solutions.

Exactly. That is the exact summation of my point. You don't need fear or chaos to drive unity.

 

[Intense]

With all of this political derisiveness over the past decade and a half, along with watching the last episode of the Glenn Beck show air in July of 2011 in my waning days as a far right Republican; I was struck with a burning question: If, in a time of crisis or danger to the US as a whole, would we as a people put away our political views to work as one in a consolidated effort to avoid it? Or would we argue on how to go about this task? It's a disturbing proposition:

Would we let our political differences be the precursor to our destruction?

In my experience with politics, I have noticed an extreme societal divide between Americans. There is one side so deeply rooted in their beliefs that no other point of view is sufficient; and if the status quo is interrupted, they react in vitriolic ways, spewing hatred and slander at any opposition. The desire to control and manipulate general opinion has overwhelmed them.

On the other hand, however, the other side hopes to one day return to a time when the law was taken seriously and the government worked for them, not against them. They amass in protest against what their nation has become. If they are confronted with the fact of losing their freedoms, they too will react in a less mannerable way. Neither side is perfect, and in fact; both of them are guilty of extreme animosity towards each other. Although each side contends their ideas reap more merits the others; the truth is, no idea is a good idea unless everyone agrees with it. Naturally though, there is never unanimous approval with any idea.

I have seen how each of these sides look down one another for having a different points of view, with hatred boiling over. Since when is it okay to look down on someone? Or judge them for what they believe in? I have seen how much effort it takes to get a Democrat and a Republican to work together on something productive, for the benefit of America. For example, the debt ceiling talks, immigration reform, abortion, or gay rights/union rights. I have seen my fellow Americans dig themselves in amidst the political trenches, fiercely defending their views, while savagely attacking their opponents. Believe me, this author is no different.

Seriously though, would we ever come together as a country for a common cause? Can we ever put the "United" back in the United States of America again? Will we as a nation once more see each other eye to eye? Will we see each other as friends and fellow compatriots, or as enemies and abominations? Unity brings about strength and stability, while divisiveness only brings about chaos, hatred and weakness.

While you celebrate your freedom to agree or disagree on this new year, just remember, there are hundreds of millions of people just like us, with different points of view; fighting for a common cause: freedom. Perhaps that is an example that all of us would do well to follow.

Each camp has it's modes. Games are played on all sides. The answers usually come from Individual perception and realization, voicing it, and acting on it. What, in Each of us, encourages that and what obstructs it?

 

[Intense]

Makes sense, but wasn't 9/11 one of those "extreme circumstances"?

Shouldn't we be looking to unity even outside those circumstances? I'm not saying sacrifice principles, but I think we could be much more creative with our solutions.

Exactly. That is the exact summation of my point. You don't need fear or chaos to drive unity.

Clarity od purpose comes with understanding, seeing. It can't be forced or imposed.

 

[Avatar4321]

I'll never befriend or fight for or unite with a fucking libtard. You people are the scum of the Earth.

Wait, did you just call me liberal? I am a libertarian.

That post is the problem here. And conservatives like you and Kosh wonder why nothing gets done in Washington?

You're either for slashing taxes and smaller government, or your a fucking libtard. Don't know or care what you are.

Nothing gets done in Washington because libtards just want to tax the hell out of us and hand it out to Obama's cronies who want Obamaphones and free welfare and food stamps.

There is no compromise with libtards. If this nation split and we lost all libtards with half the states, fine, because the other half of us would live just fine.

Who is suggetsing crompromise? Unity doesn't necessarily mean we compromise. It can come through persuasion. And you dont persuade people by dismissing them and providing them no reason to see where they are wrong. People are allowed to be wrong.

 

[TemplarKormac]

With all of this political derisiveness over the past decade and a half, along with watching the last episode of the Glenn Beck show air in July of 2011 in my waning days as a far right Republican; I was struck with a burning question: If, in a time of crisis or danger to the US as a whole, would we as a people put away our political views to work as one in a consolidated effort to avoid it? Or would we argue on how to go about this task? It's a disturbing proposition:

Would we let our political differences be the precursor to our destruction?

In my experience with politics, I have noticed an extreme societal divide between Americans. There is one side so deeply rooted in their beliefs that no other point of view is sufficient; and if the status quo is interrupted, they react in vitriolic ways, spewing hatred and slander at any opposition. The desire to control and manipulate general opinion has overwhelmed them.

On the other hand, however, the other side hopes to one day return to a time when the law was taken seriously and the government worked for them, not against them. They amass in protest against what their nation has become. If they are confronted with the fact of losing their freedoms, they too will react in a less mannerable way. Neither side is perfect, and in fact; both of them are guilty of extreme animosity towards each other. Although each side contends their ideas reap more merits the others; the truth is, no idea is a good idea unless everyone agrees with it. Naturally though, there is never unanimous approval with any idea.

I have seen how each of these sides look down one another for having a different points of view, with hatred boiling over. Since when is it okay to look down on someone? Or judge them for what they believe in? I have seen how much effort it takes to get a Democrat and a Republican to work together on something productive, for the benefit of America. For example, the debt ceiling talks, immigration reform, abortion, or gay rights/union rights. I have seen my fellow Americans dig themselves in amidst the political trenches, fiercely defending their views, while savagely attacking their opponents. Believe me, this author is no different.

Seriously though, would we ever come together as a country for a common cause? Can we ever put the "United" back in the United States of America again? Will we as a nation once more see each other eye to eye? Will we see each other as friends and fellow compatriots, or as enemies and abominations? Unity brings about strength and stability, while divisiveness only brings about chaos, hatred and weakness.

While you celebrate your freedom to agree or disagree on this new year, just remember, there are hundreds of millions of people just like us, with different points of view; fighting for a common cause: freedom. Perhaps that is an example that all of us would do well to follow.

Each camp has it's modes. Games are played on all sides. The answers usually come from Individual perception and realization, voicing it, and acting on it. What, in Each of us, encourages that and what obstructs it?

I think we fear unity. Such unity would be wholly alien to us all. We fight or we run from what we fear. Adversity can encourage unity, but also drive towards a common cause can do the same. We don't need to agree to be united.

 

[Plasmaball]

Oh one of these threads...

 

[Avatar4321]

You guys are putting way too much effort into trying to reason with or understand the mind of a libtard.

The time for compromise and understanding went away years ago.

They need to either stop voting, be jailed for fraud of taxpayers, or, leave the United States. Period.

Why because you say so?

How does any of this persuade people to the right?

 

[TemplarKormac]

Unity in this case means you stop being a team player.